The medial pterygoid is located in the infratemporal fossa and is involved in several movements of the mandible. It consists of two heads - superficial head and deep head (larger).

Origin: the superficial head originates from the maxillary tuberosity of the maxilla and the pyramidal process of the palatine bone; the deep head originates from the medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate (sphenoid bone).

Insertion: pterygoid tuberosity of the mandible, medial surface of the ramus (close to the angle, posterior and inferior to the mylohyoid groove).

Action: upon bilateral contractions, the medial pterygoid muscles push the mandible forward and upward; by contraction on one side, the muscle pushes the mandible to the opposite side of the activated muscle; medial pterygoid muscle also contributes to the elevation of the mandible acting as a synergist to the temporalis and masseter muscles.

Innervation: medial pterygoid nerve - a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3).

Blood supply: pterygoid branches arising from several sources - maxillary artery, buccal artery (a branch of the maxillary artery) and facial artery.

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Medial pterygoid muscle